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London Trivia: Park Lane bomb

5 September, 2021 Gibson Square Leave a comment

On 5 September 1975, two people were killed and 63 injured when a suspected IRA bomb exploded in the lobby of the Hilton Hotel on Park Lane. A warning was sent to the Daily Mail just before midday, but the police were unable to evacuate the building before it exploded just after 12.15 p.m.

On 5 September 1988 No Sex Please We’re British the West End’s longest running comedy closed after 16 years and 6,671 performances

Thomas Cromwell, Vicar-General for Henry VIII, introduced a scheme where each parish, in the presence of the warders, must record all baptisms, marriages and burials

In 1831 London became the first city in the world to have 1 million inhabitants only overtaken in size by Tokyo 126 years later

When Guy Fawkes was executed hanging broke his neck preventing the drawing and quartering (removing his intestines, arms and legs) while alive

When entering The Houses of Parliament its Members are still banned from wearing a suit of armour under an Act made by Edward II in 1313

Lions of Trafalgar Square were sculpted from life artist Landseer used dead lions from London Zoo until neighbours complained of the smell

The London Eye can carry 800 people each rotation comparable to 11 double decker buses receives on average more visitors per year than the Taj Mahal and the Great Pyramid of Giza

After Percy Lambert was killed racing at Brooklands in 1913 he was buried at Brompton Cemetery in a coffin designed to match his racing car

Wealthy oil baron Nubar Gulbenkian had a luxurious taxi conversion. He told friends “Apparently it can turn on a sixpence, whatever that is”

St. Paul’s Cathedral at 365ft high and over 40 years to construct. It took so long to complete its builders had the reputation of being lazy

The only qualification needed to join Edmund Kean’s Wolf Club at the Coal Hole, Strand was your wife had forbidden you to sing in the bath

Trivial Matter: London in 140 characters is taken from the daily Twitter feed @cabbieblog.
A guide to the symbols used here and source material can be found on the Trivial Matter page.

Puppydog tails

Test Your Knowledge: September

3 September, 2021 Gibson Square 2 Comments

Arather eclectic mix of questions for this month’s quiz. As before the correct answer will turn green when it’s clicked upon and expanded to give more information. The incorrect answers will turn red giving the correct explanation.

1. Oranges and Lemons say the bells of St Clements. What does the great bell of Bow say?

I do not know

CORRECT Oranges and lemons, Say the bells of St Clement’s.
You owe me five farthings, Say the bells of St. Martin’s.
When will you pay me? Say the bells of Old Bailey.
When I grow rich, Say the bells of Shoreditch.
When will that be? Say the bells of Stepney.
I do not know, Says the great bell of Bow.
.

When I grow rich

WRONG Oranges and lemons, Say the bells of St Clement’s.
You owe me five farthings, Say the bells of St. Martin’s.
When will you pay me? Say the bells of Old Bailey.
When I grow rich, Say the bells of Shoreditch.
When will that be? Say the bells of Stepney.
I do not know, Says the great bell of Bow.
.

When will that be?

2. What was the name of Reggie and Ronnie Kray’s older brother?

George

WRONG Charlie Kray was the older brother and took an active role in the twin’s gang. He’s said to be the lesser of three evils, though he was jailed for 12 years, at the ripe old age of 70, for plotting to smuggle nearly £40million worth of cocaine. He died in prison three years later.

Charlie

CORRECT Charlie Kray was the older brother and took an active role in the twin’s gang. He’s said to be the lesser of three evils, though he was jailed for 12 years, at the ripe old age of 70, for plotting to smuggle nearly £40million worth of cocaine. He died in prison three years later.

Fred

3. What football club is the oldest in London?

Fulham

CORRECT Fulham was founded in 1879 and are London’s oldest club still playing professionally. Royal Arsenal was London’s first team to turn professional in 1891. They became Woolwich Arsenal in 1893 and then became Arsenal in 1913. Charlton Athletic was founded in 1905.

Arsenal

WRONG Fulham was founded in 1879 and are London’s oldest club still playing professionally. Royal Arsenal was London’s first team to turn professional in 1891. They became Woolwich Arsenal in 1893 and then became Arsenal in 1913. Charlton Athletic was founded in 1905.

Charlton

4. What famous address is located at postcode SW1A 2AA?

Portcullis House

WRONG 10 Downing Street is SW1A 2AA
Portcullis House is SW1A 2LW
Westminster Abbey is SW1P 3PA

Westminster Abbey

WRONG 10 Downing Street is SW1A 2AA
Portcullis House is SW1A 2LW
Westminster Abbey is SW1P 3PA.

10 Downing Street

CORRECT10 Downing Street is SW1A 2AA
Portcullis House is SW1A 2LW
Westminster Abbey is SW1P 3PA.

5. Which airport has the luggage code LCY?

City

CORRECT City – LCY
Heathrow – LHR
Gatwick – LGW
.

Heathrow

WRONG City – LCY
Heathrow – LHR
Gatwick – LGW
.

Gatwick

WRONG City – LCY
Heathrow – LHR
Gatwick – LGW
.

6. George Michael infamously crashed his Range Rover into the Hampstead branch of what high street shop?

Specsavers

WRONG George Michael served four weeks in prison in 2010 after his Range Rover ploughed into a Snappy Snaps shop while he was driving under the influence of drugs after the Gay Pride parade. Snappy Snaps tried to discourage fans leaving flowers at the Hampstead premises when he later died.

Snappy Snaps

CORRECT George Michael served four weeks in prison in 2010 after his Range Rover ploughed into a Snappy Snaps shop while he was driving under the influence of drugs after the Gay Pride parade. Snappy Snaps tried to discourage fans leaving flowers at the Hampstead premises when he later died.

McDonald’s

7. In which London neighbourhood can you find ‘Little Portugal?

South Kensington

WRONG Stockwell is home to a large Portuguese community, with many Portuguese businesses located in the area. Clerkenwell was once known as ‘Little Italy’. More French people live in London than in Bordeaux, Nantes or Strasbourg and some now regard it as France’s sixth biggest city in terms of population. Once centred around South Kensington, many now favour East London.

Clerkenwell

Stockwell

CORRECT Stockwell is home to a large Portuguese community, with many Portuguese businesses located in the area. Clerkenwell was once known as ‘Little Italy’. More French people live in London than in Bordeaux, Nantes or Strasbourg and some now regard it as France’s sixth biggest city in terms of population. Once centred around South Kensington, many now favour East London.

8. Name the river that flows directly outside the 2012 Olympic Stadium?

River Rom

WRONG The River Lea (also spelt Lee) originates in Marsh Farm in the Chiltern Hills and flows in a general SE direction. When the river reaches the boundary of old Metropolitan London, it essentially flows south until it meets River Thames at Bow Creek. It is one of the largest tributaries of the Thames in London and it is the easternmost major tributary of the Thames.

Hackney Brook

River Lea

CORRECT The River Lea (also spelt Lee) originates in Marsh Farm in the Chiltern Hills and flows in a general SE direction. When the river reaches the boundary of old Metropolitan London, it essentially flows south until it meets River Thames at Bow Creek. It is one of the largest tributaries of the Thames in London and it is the easternmost major tributary of the Thames.

9. a London football ground and also the name of a battle in September 1066?

Stamford Bridge

CORRECT The Battle of Stamford Bridge took place at the village of Stamford Bridge, East Riding of Yorkshire, in England on 25 September 1066, between an English army under King Harold Godwinson and an invading Norwegian force led by King Harald Hardrada. The Battle of Barnet took place on 14 April 1471 and decisive engagement in the Wars of the Roses. The Territorial Army trained the local population as preparation for the enlistment of men into the armed services at the start of World War II. This took place on the Craven Cottage pitch.

Craven Cottage

WRONG The Battle of Stamford Bridge took place at the village of Stamford Bridge, East Riding of Yorkshire, in England on 25 September 1066, between an English army under King Harold Godwinson and an invading Norwegian force led by King Harald Hardrada. The Battle of Barnet took place on 14 April 1471 and decisive engagement in the Wars of the Roses. The Territorial Army trained the local population as preparation for the enlistment of men into the armed services at the start of World War II. This took place on the Craven Cottage pitch.

Barnet

10. Starring in BBC’s Eastenders, what was the name of Dirty Den’s poodle?

Holly

WRONG Roly was the pet poodle of Sharon Watts who lived with her and Den and Angie at the Queen Victoria. He appeared on the first episode of the programme on 19 February 1985 and remained in the show until 19 October 1993.

Roly

CORRECT Roly was the pet poodle of Sharon Watts who lived with her and Den and Angie at the Queen Victoria. He appeared on the first episode of the programme on 19 February 1985 and remained in the show until 19 October 1993.

Polly